MyRITV

MyRITV is the on-air brand of WPRI-DT2, the second digital television subchannel of WPRI-TV in the Providence, Rhode Island, market. It operates as a local affiliate of MyNetworkTV, a programming service that supplies nationally distributed syndicated and serialized entertainment programming during weekday prime-time hours. Unlike a separately licensed full-power television station, WPRI-DT2 is a digital subchannel carried under WPRI-TV's broadcast license and shares the station's transmission infrastructure and operational resources. The service's current identity developed through a series of digital-channel and affiliation changes in the Providence market. WPRI initially used its second digital stream for TheCoolTV, a music-video service that began appearing on WPRI-DT2 in October 2010. That programming was replaced by Bounce TV in July 2013. MyNetworkTV programming had previously been carried on WNAC-DT2. WNAC-TV is the Fox-affiliated sister station operated alongside WPRI-TV under a local marketing arrangement, and its digital subchannel became the Providence-market MyNetworkTV outlet on October 1, 2009, after MyNetworkTV programming was removed from WNAC's main channel. On October 2, 2017, MyRITV moved from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI-DT2. The change formed part of a larger rearrangement of digital services involving WLWC, WNAC-DT2, Bounce TV, GetTV, and the market's CW programming. Under the revised configuration, MyRITV occupied WPRI's 12.2 stream, Bounce TV moved to 12.3, and GetTV moved to a newly created 12.4 service. The move also allowed WLWC programming, including the CW affiliation acquired by Nexstar, to be placed on WNAC-DT2. WPRI-DT2 originally broadcast in 480i standard definition. In October 2017, coinciding with the move of MyRITV to the channel, the subchannel was upgraded to 720p high definition. WPRI-TV's main service continued to carry CBS in 1080i, while the station's digital multiplex used separate streams for MyNetworkTV, Bounce TV, and GetTV. The arrangement reflects the bandwidth management challenges faced by stations carrying several major network and multicast services. MyRITV's practical role is that of a local network affiliate and entertainment outlet rather than a standalone news organization. It benefits from the facilities, engineering operation, market presence, and corporate ownership of WPRI-TV. WPRI-TV is based in East Providence and is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which acquired Media General, WPRI's prior corporate owner, in January 2017. WPRI-TV also operates WNAC-TV through a long-running local marketing agreement. MyRITV's reach is therefore tied to WPRI-TV's Providence-area broadcast signal and the broader Southern New England television market.

MyRITV is associated with WPRI-TV's digital subchannel operation in Providence, Rhode Island. Its history is best understood through the development of WPRI-TV and the changing allocation of digital multicast services in the market. WPRI-TV began broadcasting in 1955 as WPRO-TV and adopted the WPRI-TV call sign in 1967 after its sale to Poole Broadcasting. The station subsequently passed through several ownership groups, including Knight Ridder Broadcasting, Narragansett Television, CBS, Clear Channel Communications, Sunrise Television, LIN TV, and Media General. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in a transaction completed in January 2017, making Nexstar the present owner of WPRI-TV and its digital subchannels. Digital multicast programming became an important part of the station's operating structure as broadcasters began using additional streams alongside their primary network affiliations. WPRI-DT2 carried TheCoolTV beginning in October 2010. The music-video service was replaced by Bounce TV in July 2013. During this period, MyNetworkTV programming was carried on WNAC-DT2. WNAC-TV, the Providence Fox affiliate, is operated alongside WPRI-TV under a local marketing agreement, allowing the stations to share facilities and operational resources while remaining separately licensed. The Providence MyNetworkTV service moved to WPRI-DT2 on October 2, 2017. The move was part of a broader channel realignment following changes involving WLWC, whose owner sold its spectrum in the Federal Communications Commission's 2016 incentive auction and arranged to share a channel with WPXQ-TV. Nexstar acquired WLWC's programming and CW affiliation and arranged for that programming to move to WNAC-DT2. To support the revised lineup, MyRITV moved onto WPRI's 12.2 stream, Bounce TV moved to 12.3, and GetTV moved to 12.4. Before the 2017 realignment, WPRI-DT2 had used 480i standard-definition transmission. The subchannel was upgraded to 720p high definition in October 2017. The final configuration gave WPRI-TV a 1080i CBS primary service and a 720p MyNetworkTV subchannel, while WNAC-TV carried Fox and CW programming on its own high-definition streams. MyRITV consequently became an entertainment-focused digital subchannel whose coverage and technical operation depend on WPRI-TV's Providence-area broadcast facilities.

• 2017

  MyRITV launches on WPRI-DT2

  [1]WPRI-TVen.wikipedia.org

  MyNetworkTV programming moved from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI-DT2 as part of a Providence-market digital-channel reorganization.

• 2017

  Subchannel upgraded to 720p

  [1]WPRI-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The WPRI-DT2 service was upgraded from standard definition to 720p high definition.

• 2013

  Bounce TV replaces TheCoolTV

  [1]WPRI-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Bounce TV took over WPRI-DT2's programming from TheCoolTV.

• 2010

  TheCoolTV added to WPRI-DT2

  [1]WPRI-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WPRI began using its second digital stream for TheCoolTV music-video programming.

• 2009

  MyNetworkTV moves to WNAC-DT2

  [1]WPRI-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Providence-market MyNetworkTV affiliation moved from WNAC-TV's primary service to its second digital subchannel.

A local over-the-air entertainment subchannel offering MyNetworkTV programming to viewers in the Providence television market.

• Digital television subchannel · 2017

  MyRITV

  The MyNetworkTV-affiliated second digital service of WPRI-TV. It is branded MyRITV and broadcasts on WPRI-DT2, historically using 480i standard definition before its upgrade to 720p high definition in October 2017. Its schedule is centered on MyNetworkTV programming and related syndicated entertainment content.

• Digital broadcast stream

  WPRI-DT2

  The technical broadcast designation for WPRI-TV's second digital subchannel. The stream has carried multiple multicast services over time, including TheCoolTV, Bounce TV, and MyNetworkTV programming. Since October 2017, it has been identified on air with the MyRITV brand.

• 2017

  Reallocation of Providence digital subchannelsStrategy

  Background

  Changes involving WLWC's spectrum disposition, channel sharing, and Nexstar's acquisition of WLWC programming required a broader rearrangement of digital services operated by WPRI-TV and WNAC-TV.

  Action taken

  MyRITV was transferred from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI-DT2. Bounce TV was assigned to WPRI-DT3, GetTV to WPRI-DT4, and CW programming was placed on WNAC-DT2.

  Aftermath

  The revised arrangement gave MyRITV a 720p WPRI subchannel and allowed the affiliated stations to distribute four major network or multicast services across their available digital capacity.

  Source

• 2017

  Upgrade from standard definition to high definitionGeneration change

  Background

  WPRI-DT2 had historically transmitted its programming in 480i standard definition.

  Action taken

  The subchannel was upgraded to 720p high definition when MyRITV moved onto the WPRI-DT2 service.

  Aftermath

  MyRITV joined WPRI-TV's high-definition digital lineup alongside the station's 1080i CBS service.

  Source

1. 1WPRI-TVen.wikipedia.org